Follow-up Meeting of the ODS Offices of the English Speaking Caribbean Network

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Maurice Bryan
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1 Follow-up Meeting of the ODS Offices of the English Speaking Caribbean Network Paramaribo, Suriname October 2003 Taking National Owner-ship and Control, to Meet and Sustain Compliance with the Montreal Protocol Results and Conclusions The meeting was officially opened by the Minister of the Environment, the Honourable, Clifford Marica and Ms. Mirian Vega ROLAC Regional Coordinator- Compliance Assistance Programme. The following results and conclusions were tabled. A. Introduction to the re-oriented Network meeting and the desired Outputs 1. The new ozone officer of Grenada was welcomed into the Network 2. Congratulations were extended to Jamaica for gaining the Global Ozone Awarded 3. The South-south cooperation provided by Jamaica, St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago to assist members of the Network were recognized and appreciated 4. Improvement in data reporting: Dominica, St. Kitts and Haiti are in compliance with respect to data reporting to the Ozone Secretariat 5. Country programme for Haiti approved in July of Extension of Institutional Strengthening Project for Jamaica and Belize approved at the 40 th Meeting of the Ex. Com. 7. Anticipating the CP RMP for Suriname will be approved at the next Ex. Com Meeting 8. Barbados RMP to be submitted at the 42 nd Ex. Com Meeting 9. Extension of Institutional Strengthening Projects for St. Kitts/Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica and Barbados expected for the 42 nd Ex. Com meeting. 10. Suggestions were made for improving the outputs of the net-work meeting. One proposal was to introduce into the agenda the issues of the Montreal Protocol and the work of the Network at high level governmental meetings. Having the Montreal Protocol tabled at intergovernmental meetings is useful in fostering high level support and commitments. 11. Suggestions were made to members to understand their individual roles in the network and to carry out higher number of collective actions involving other country stakeholders. In this regard the meeting considered proposals for thematic meetings. Presently three topics are considered important: a. Training of the new Ozone Officers and Assistants b. Alternative Technologies for the Air-conditioning and refrigeration Sector and in particular Hydrocarbon technologies c. Illegal Trade of ODS in the Region

2 12. It was agreed that collective thematic meetings should not be at the cost of the country specific issues and needs. It was proposed that the thematic meetings will follow (back to back) on one of the meetings of the network; either the main meeting or the preparatory meeting. The number of annual thematic meetings will depend on approved funding. 13. In keeping with this proposal, the next meeting will be in Cuba back to back with a thematic meeting for the training of NOO and refrigeration and air-conditioning sector in HC technologies currently employed in Cuba 14. The need for cross-fertilization amongst the networks was reemphasized and accepted. B. Status of Meeting the 2005 Control Measures (CFCs 50% reduction in Consumption) 1. The status of each participant towards meeting the 2005 control measures was tabled as follows: a. Not Meeting the 50% reduction i. St. Kitts/Nevis- will not be able to meet the 2005 control however should meet the 50% cut by 2007 ii. St. Vincent and the Grenadines party indicated that now that the Licensing system was in place greater control would be provided. The quota system will be installed in iii. Haiti- still building on institutional capacities as the projects have only just been approved iv. Dominica licensing system not in place, absence of NOO for a prolonged period b. Countries that will meet the 50% reduction i. Jamaica- expected to have complete phase out by 2006 ii. Antigua/Barbuda iii. Trinidad and Tobago iv. St. Lucia v. Belize c. Countries still to access their status of meeting the 2005 Controls i. Grenada ii. Suriname iii. Bahamas- data under review. 2. It was noted that seven counties of the network may not meet the 50% compliance schedule 3. It was proposed that CAP has to continually inform countries on the Compliance targets. This information should also reach the high levels officials in each country 4. Other comments

3 i. Jamaica under the TPMP, party is obligated to keep its targets )by phase out by 2006) ii. Belize indicated that historically ExCom ignored the needs of low volume consuming countries. iii. Bahamas expressed the need for external assistance to encourage decision of national high level officials C. Illegal trade 1. To investigate the resources of the MLF to assist parties 2. Parties need assistance in evaluation of the magnitude of illegal trade and development of needs assessments 3. Environment Canada has expressed willingness to assist the region on illegal trade however they need very specific proposal 4. Countries can incorporate the issues of illegal trade in the formulation of the RMP and strengthening of Customs department D. Regional Public Education and Awareness Activities 1. Presentation was made by the NOO of Antigua-Barbuda of the decisions made at the Main Meeting of Ozone Officers-St. Kitts (June 2003) 2. The network expressed its dissatisfaction in the manner in which a decision taken at the St. Kitts meeting was overruled and changed in the absence of consultation with the network. The Network further requested UNEP/ROLAC to accept its original proposed as amended. 3. Network made revised presentation on Public Education and awareness taking into consideration the concerns expressed by UNEP/ROLAC. UNEP ROLAC accepted the proposal on the condition that the network includes the cost of shipment and distribution, also following UN procedure and rules. UNEP/ROLAC/CAP advised the network on the necessity for developing a plan connecting the material developed with a distribution strategy to provide for effective reach to target audience (s). E. Compliance Status of Countries 1. Dominica a. Great improvements were made since the St. Kitts Meeting b. Up to dated with submissions of 2002 data to both the MLF and OS c. Information Submitted to Permanent Secretary for development of Legislation d. RMP implementation to be resumed shortly and discussions with Customs were already held e. A refresher Train the Trainer Programme for the Air-conditioning and refrigeration sector is necessary 2. Bahamas a. Legislation is still to be approved b. Consumption on Family Owned Islands was not included in the earlier data. In recent years these consumption were then included.

4 c. There has been a change in administration where all responsibilities for the MP is under the Ministry of Health and Environment d. NOO requested that following CAP Assistance: i. Decrease time need for approval of legislation ii. Impress upon high level officials the importance of ratification of the Amendments 3. Grenada: a. New full time Ozone Officer was appointed six weeks ago (August 2003) b. Data is presently being analyzed for submission (preliminary data for is collected and being analyzed) c. Licensing system should be in place by November of 2003 d. Ratification of the Beijing amendment will be completed at the National Level in October of 2003 e. Refrigeration Management Plan- Provision of technical support to the College for training in good refrigeration practices. f.. Training of Customs Officers planned for November of 2003 will not be held because legislation is not yet in place. g. Public Awareness and Education NOO will share the Sun Smart TV advertisement on the Visitor Channel at the next NOO meeting 3. St. Kitts/ Nevis a. Up to date on data reporting ( last year of reporting 2002) b. Base line on Methyl Bromide Submitted and received by the OS c. Country will not meet the % consumption cut d. Regulations were signed by the Minister i. Given this advanced stage of Legislative development, planning and implementation for the training of Customs Officers can immediately begin e. Quota submission to be submitted to the OS will give complete phase out by 2009 f. Party expressed to need for training for the new NOO g. CAP will work with the OS in order to get a faster response time to the Parties h. All reports on the IS were submitted to UNON i. Party should seek to have IS renewed at the 42 nd Ex. Com. j. RMP renewal is planned for July St. Vincent and the Grenadines i. Increased in consumption of CFC ii. Base line erroneously reported it is not 1.8. Party is not requesting a baseline change iii. Licensing system now in place and it will include a quota system iv. New ozone officer will be installed by January 2004

5 5. Suriname v. Party should seek to have the IS renewed at the 42 nd Ex. Com i. Submission of data is expected in the first week of November of 2003 ii. CP-RMP is expected to be submitted at the 41 st Ex.Com iii. Discussions are being made on the ratification of the amendments F. Implications of entry into force of the Beijing amendment particularly in relation to trade in and supply of HCFCs presentation made by Mr. Marco Gonzales Ozone Secretariat. The meeting discussed the four presented. Parties made further inquiries on the interpretations and how they will affect LVCs. Parties were encouraged to ratify all amendments G: Long term Alternatives in the Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Sector. Following the presentation made by the NOO of St. Vincent and the Grenadines the network is of the consensus that HC technology is one of the preferred approaches for the Refrigeration Sector. The present technologies used in Cuba will be studied for their applicability in this network. H: Strategies for timely reporting The NOO of St. Lucia gave comprehensive guidelines on keeping up with reporting requirements. NOOs appreciated these tips and were strongly encouraged to have regular and periodic updates in order to avoid backlogs and eventual delays I.UV Monitoring in the Caribbean. It was agreed that UV monitoring and the use on the UV data is important for the region. The NOO of Dominica will continue to investigate the development a regional proposal for UV monitoring including assessment of the cost of purchase and maintenance J. Status of the Regional Halon Management Plan status of the regional project was presented. Network was advised all funds will be allocated by December of Parties were encouraged to submit their national data including those parties that not part of the HMP. K. Other recommendations a. Recovery and Recycling Equipment, a working group be established comprising of Belize and Grenada to advise on the selection of best available and appropriate systems for the network. b. Investigation on the safe disposal of used spent refrigerant cylinders. Grenada newly recruited NOO, will spearhead this initiative. L. Date and time for next meeting: June 2003, Cuba Next Repertoire: NOO of Trinidad and Tobago

R E P O R T. Main Meeting of the ODS Officers Network of the English-speaking Caribbean. Kingstown, St. Vincent and The Grenadines, June 2001

R E P O R T. Main Meeting of the ODS Officers Network of the English-speaking Caribbean. Kingstown, St. Vincent and The Grenadines, June 2001 United Nations Environment Programme Division of Technology, Industry and Economics OzonAction Programme Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean R E P O R T Main Meeting of the ODS Officers